America the Wounded
Escorting its children
To candlelight memorials of heartache
Triggered by appalling spectacles of violence and mayhem
America the Bountiful
Feeding its populace
With the narcissistic candy of video games,
Eyewitness news, pornographic phantasmagoria,
And political humbug
America the Proud,
A leader who seems to have forgotten
How to follow its own lead,
Living under a shroud of indifference
Whose pioneer spirit
Is decaying
On the ever-growing streets of world domination
America, Dreamer of new worlds
Feeding on the refuse of old-world propaganda
America the god-fearing nation
Afraid of having a personal link with godly thoughts;
Opting to hide in caves of religious fanaticism
Cowering under rocks and stones
America the Beautiful
Masquerading as the epitome of ugliness
To the world outside its borders
And to the boundaries within its states
America the Chaotic
Where gangs, rapists, murders, bigots, and terrorists
Fester like pus on its treasured surfaces
Where war is the modus operandi
Lining the pockets of the industrial complex:
So complex, its short-sighted visions of power and glory
Is the training ground
For patriotic behavioral disorder
America the Bold
If only you would listen to your “invisible legislatures”
And proliferate a valiant way of living
Beyond the mythologies of your being
Before, O’ Dear America
You devolve into the debris of denatured dust
And your towering dreams transform to rust
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Reviews of "America, where art thou?"
Reviewed by Mildred Kisor (Reader)
Reviewed on September 13, 2008
Jude, your words are divinely inspirational and could not be more correctly expressed. If only every American could come to this realization. We cannot blame the politicians for all of it. We, The People, are the government, not the politicians. It is through our own negligence that we have allowed ourselves to come to this point. Unless the sleeping people awake and make the necessary changes we are presently teetering over the edge of destruction and very close, if not already there, to the point of no return.
Reviewed by Michael LaSalle (Reader)
Reviewed on May 20, 2007
I could picture you rendering this, the way classic poets spoke in gatherings, speak on, your work is masterful in every way, mike
Thought-provoking, Jude, and never more relevant than in these turbulent days -- oh wait, America has been here before. Oh America, if only we could remember our history and learn from past mistakes. Thanks for making us remember that which should never be forgotten.
O'Dear, O'Dear, O'Dear... You hold a tarnished mirror to an old hag who has become a travesty of her former self, a wolf in sheep's clothing, and who appears blind to her offensive decadence, too much besotted and self-deceived by her own perceptions of inviolability, invincibility, and the delusion of perpetual Youth and Beauty, the Achilles on the World Stage.... Alas, her delicate heel has been found and exploited to the full. Paranoia is a killer and in the mirror she will be jealous and threatened by her own reflection. Mirror, mirror on the wall... Your mirror here speaks, Jude, the "truthiness" (gotta LOVE Nordette!!) of the child who unfrocked the Emperor in his New Clothes... Our naked world leaders ain't lookin too good in the buff these days... TY K xx
you've covered a lot of ground herein, jude. really like the last stanza! thankfully 'patriotric behavior disorder' appears to have peaked--in some quarters at least...
peace,
carolyn
Powerful poetic dialectics on every front. If the country has indeed forgotten what it means to excercise conscience in regard to time-honored principles, values, and practices, AMERICA, WHERE ART THOU is an apt reminder.
Before, O’ Dear America
You devolve into the debris of denatured dust
And your towering dreams transform to rust
These last lines are very powerful. Hope leaders shall pay attention to these lofty calls
Reviewed by Butch Howard (Reader)
Reviewed on April 26, 2007
You have a keen eye and insight into the plight this once proud America of ours now faces. What will it take to "awaken this sleeping giant?" This poem is a good start. You are the poet's poet, Jude.
~Butch
'America the god-fearing nation
Afraid of having a personal link with godly thoughts'
Incredibly necessary ... your poem, your mind is what freedom's all about! Thank you Jude for your using your freedom to help open and awaken.
Love, Suzie
Amen Jude
You have said it all
there was a time, I couldn't wait to exit my house
Drive somewhere,
Now I hesitate, long enough to recite a prayer
before I continue on a trip where I may never return.
Are we becoming prisoners of a civilization, on it's downfall?
Out on the New Jersey Turnpike, looking for Amerrrrricaaa! A genre new to you, but nontheless comprehensive of the ills that ail us. Like I wrote in my poem, Optimistic, I believe all of the apocalyptic books and movies are wrong and we won't sink into anarchy and ruin.
As I think about how history repeats itself, I recall how the Roman Empire declined and the barbaric tribes overan Europe. The level of civilization sank. Get the life rafts ready!
Love and Peace~
kimmy~
"Before, O’ Dear America
You devolve into the debris of denatured dust
And your towering dreams transform to rust"
Jude-you're writing on one of my favorite and most hated subjects here. I wish I had the power to explain it as you do. This is a very important piece that should be considered in utmost seriousness. Thank you - HB
Oh, what a sad, powerful write, Jude. *They* say that the malcontents, etc. are 14% of America's population; well, the other 86% will just have to get up the leadership and backbone to stop the rape of our country.
YOU have COVERERED it ALL! Jude
This poem is such a gem! to Treasure!
SAdly and truthfully put!
Your words surely astound the mind/heart/soul!
Thank you very much for sharing this gem Jude!
This is a portrait of the world not just America. It is a portrait of decaying human nature that has sparked a reaction from a foreign ideology that has added barbarity to the mix. Where the west is concerned, I guess it's the confused spirit of the post - modernist age - thanks in part to Mr Foucault and Mr Gramsci amongst other quick sand foundational relativists.
Seems like America is slightly in the pickle with you huh??
Quite sadly all the bad that life can offer are happening to "America" and the people living there...not that it does not happen everywhere...but because "America" is AMERICA it seems to be the target these days!!
Love Tinka
Love Tinka
Reviewed by LadyJtalks LadyJzTalkZone (Reader)
Reviewed on April 23, 2007
How sad it is to know that our country has changed so much since those first years that inspired such songs of this land. I think we still have spacious skies even if some parts of the country have trouble seeing to them. Good write. Lady J
Reviewed by Stan Grimes (Reader)
Reviewed on April 23, 2007
Jude, you have voiced my biggest worries. Great write!
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on April 23, 2007
All nations need changing at this time and we are aware, it is people like you that will direct us in thought to what our next step should be. Its strange a man who told me not to buy into the illusions for the next 10 years.......about 7 years back....bought into the illusions. Still not sure what direction this is all heading into but believe it or not I do believe that we will have a wonderful ending.
What a true write dear friend, you captured our society today within the lines of this poem. Our world seems to be on a rampage of destruction! There have always been crimes and criminals, I can remember a time when events that are happening now, such as the Va. tragedy would have shocked the entire nation, we couldn't imagine such a horrific thing within our own country, the Land of the Free! Such a sad, sad, loss...the sad thing is that the warning signs were there...but overlooked! Profound write my friend!
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
The world is chaotic Where gangs, rapists, murders and
I don't know if the war will end
Power to power religion to
Religion but we can't defeat
The power of God
A very powerful and profound write!
Love And Peace to you always
Your friend...Morning star
Where war is the modus operandi
Lining the pockets of the industrial complex:
So complex, its short-sighted visions of power and glory
Is the training ground
For patriotic behavioral disorder
How so sadly true, and I hope we manage to see the light someday, before it's much too late.
Jude...
This is spell binding in it's open honesty and truth, all points made are on the mark and sadly so true. I am a Canadian but I also feel my own country following the same path as big brother to the South. Great write my friend...exceallant.
As long as one honest man or woman is left standing, America will survive as a Nation.
To be proud of be an American, is not patriotism, is an state of mind.
Wolves can blow and blow, but our house they will never destroy.
Well done, my friend, very well done.
Georg
I doubt that if this piece of poetic genius was stuck right up Bushs Nasal cavity, he'd even notice...He has a sign on the door..."Out to War" And we ( in Oz) my friend, are right behind you in our political arena!!
But don't let me deter you, keep shoving it LOL, you never know.
Excellent write dear one.
Ch'erie
Jude for President! yes, Yes, YES! This rocks with all the passion of a minuteman from way back in the days when we knew how to take hold of a nation and do the right thing. . . FIGHT THE POWER!
blessin's, keep on preachin' Rev. Jude!
"It hides in caves of religious fanaticism
Cowering under rocks and stones"
True, so true that "religious excavaters" miraculously turn up the tomb of Jesus...media-hungry tithe plate tabloids and biblical propaganda fed to the ignorant masses in the taint of modern-day Christianity...
"Where war is the modus operandi
Lining the pockets of the industrial complex:"
True...the president declares and sustains war in a grandiose effort to pimp politician-owned construction companies to rebuild bloodshed only to be rebombed to profit fat politicians wallets...
How many politicians do you think own stock in the oil companies??? For a crude fat retirement plan 401Krude...
America, where art thou?? Who runs this country?? The Carlyle Group...The Carlyle Group is a Washington, D.C. based global private equity investment firm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlyle_Group
I used to think of America as being the land of the free, hot dogs, apple pie and mom...now America is the land of the greedy, mustard gas, tainted pet food, and deceiving Mother F'ers...
This is why poets are born, to make statements that provoke change! You have a strong voice with brilliant analysis!It needs to be published for the leaders to see that the people are not idle fools who don't care.
'America, Where Art Thou?' strikes a resonating chord of discord. Not your poetry, my (((friend))), what you bring up in hard hitting questions that MUST be addressed IN your poem. We've forgotten our values; we've forgotten our faith; we've forgotten our families; we care more about what happens on foreign shores than right here, within OUR borders..our voices used to matter; no one hears our outcry, our outrage...an excellent, thought provoking write that begs change.
what I think...its all in the master plan...its just gotta get so ugly and so bad...before we've all had enough! and then...the greater mass consciousness can take that giant leap forward where war will no longer be the "modus operandi", you are correct it is all very short sighted currently, but personally i'm keeping the faith...everything happens for a higher purpose...appreciate your candid passion
A people’s heart can be found in their poetic words. In history men and women have stood firmly upon their soapboxes and street corners, rallying the deepest beliefs of people to rise up and be heard. The poetrypages.com has offered that voice a new
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peace,
carolyn
Aberjhani
You devolve into the debris of denatured dust
And your towering dreams transform to rust
These last lines are very powerful. Hope leaders shall pay attention to these lofty calls
~Butch
great write and provocative thoughts
thanks for sharing
love and peace
Huda
Afraid of having a personal link with godly thoughts'
Incredibly necessary ... your poem, your mind is what freedom's all about! Thank you Jude for your using your freedom to help open and awaken.
Love, Suzie
You have said it all
there was a time, I couldn't wait to exit my house
Drive somewhere,
Now I hesitate, long enough to recite a prayer
before I continue on a trip where I may never return.
Are we becoming prisoners of a civilization, on it's downfall?
Peace .....William
We are only human..........
but can trust in God
~hugs~
Karen
Brett
Your inner eye is prophetic in its telling, my Brother....a cogent rant that had me holding my breath to the end, without even realizing it.
'America, where art thou??' ........ask Jude the Magnificent.
Love&Prayers, Rhonda
Ron
Love and Peace~
kimmy~
You devolve into the debris of denatured dust
And your towering dreams transform to rust"
Jude-you're writing on one of my favorite and most hated subjects here. I wish I had the power to explain it as you do. This is a very important piece that should be considered in utmost seriousness. Thank you - HB
must be exposed for what it is. Great commentary!
Peace. Joyce
Hugs Angela
This poem is such a gem! to Treasure!
SAdly and truthfully put!
Your words surely astound the mind/heart/soul!
Thank you very much for sharing this gem Jude!
WArmly, WArrior Lady Sheeeoox
One Of Even Better Than YourZ Best Yet...
TRASK
Regards
Dai
Quite sadly all the bad that life can offer are happening to "America" and the people living there...not that it does not happen everywhere...but because "America" is AMERICA it seems to be the target these days!!
Love Tinka
Love Tinka
Thanks,
Dan
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
I don't know if the war will end
Power to power religion to
Religion but we can't defeat
The power of God
A very powerful and profound write!
Love And Peace to you always
Your friend...Morning star
Lining the pockets of the industrial complex:
So complex, its short-sighted visions of power and glory
Is the training ground
For patriotic behavioral disorder
How so sadly true, and I hope we manage to see the light someday, before it's much too late.
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( >tears! <
This is spell binding in it's open honesty and truth, all points made are on the mark and sadly so true. I am a Canadian but I also feel my own country following the same path as big brother to the South. Great write my friend...exceallant.
Felix L. Perry
To be proud of be an American, is not patriotism, is an state of mind.
Wolves can blow and blow, but our house they will never destroy.
Well done, my friend, very well done.
Georg
It seems as though, no matter how many walls we erect there will always be another to fill. Your words have a powerful impact.
But don't let me deter you, keep shoving it LOL, you never know.
Excellent write dear one.
Ch'erie
blessin's, keep on preachin' Rev. Jude!
cynth'ya
Be safe,
Karen
Cowering under rocks and stones"
True, so true that "religious excavaters" miraculously turn up the tomb of Jesus...media-hungry tithe plate tabloids and biblical propaganda fed to the ignorant masses in the taint of modern-day Christianity...
"Where war is the modus operandi
Lining the pockets of the industrial complex:"
True...the president declares and sustains war in a grandiose effort to pimp politician-owned construction companies to rebuild bloodshed only to be rebombed to profit fat politicians wallets...
How many politicians do you think own stock in the oil companies??? For a crude fat retirement plan 401Krude...
America, where art thou?? Who runs this country?? The Carlyle Group...The Carlyle Group is a Washington, D.C. based global private equity investment firm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlyle_Group
I used to think of America as being the land of the free, hot dogs, apple pie and mom...now America is the land of the greedy, mustard gas, tainted pet food, and deceiving Mother F'ers...
Sage
who does what to whom
or when or where
i started packing now
i am ready to get off
and turn into a ghost
or worse
a bowl
of dust
lol
'America, Where Art Thou?' strikes a resonating chord of discord. Not your poetry, my (((friend))), what you bring up in hard hitting questions that MUST be addressed IN your poem. We've forgotten our values; we've forgotten our faith; we've forgotten our families; we care more about what happens on foreign shores than right here, within OUR borders..our voices used to matter; no one hears our outcry, our outrage...an excellent, thought provoking write that begs change.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Splendid work here.